Drilling apparatus



(No.M"odel.)

W. L. SAUNDERS.

DRILLING APPARATUS. No. 270,488. Patented Jan.9,1883.

` MTED STATES PATENT rerun.

WHJLAM L. SAUNDERS, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

DRI LLING APPARATUS.

'SEECIFIATION forming part of Letters Patent No. I270,488, dated January 9, 183. Application tiled November 10,1882. (No model.)

,'Z'o all lwhom 'it may concern:

Bc it known that I, WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, in the county ofHudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iu Drilling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division of my applica-- tion for Letters Patent for rockdrilling apparatus, filed October 2, 1882, Serial No. 73,166.

My invention relates particularly to the class ot' drilling apparatus employed in connection with submarine excavations, where it is often necessary to drill into submerged rocks and to operateA through superposed or overlying strata ot' sand, mud, or gravel.

The object of my invention is to relieve the drill from friction occasioned by the pressure of the sand or mud through which it may be necessary to pass in order to operate upon the rock, to remove the dbris and cuttings from the point ot' the drill as rapidly as they accumulate, to permit the drill to be removed at any time, and at the same time preserving the hole, both through the bed of sand or mud and in the rock itself', free from obstructive accumulations, and to facilitate the insertion ot' blastparallel with the shank or steel of the drill ex- -tends a small pipe, terminating above the bit of the drill, and arranged to convey a continuous stream of water thereto. At a suitablel distance above its lower extremity the conically-taperiug section is provided with a lateral opening, through which thedebris accumulating within the lower extension is discharged. The means for eifecting this discharge consist of a suitable steam or water pipe extending downward along the inclosing cylinder or tube to the conical section thereof,

into which it enters, terminating` in a nozzle concentric with the discharge-opening, au d con -v stituting a device known as an ejectorJ By forcing a jet of steam .or stream ot' water downward through this pipe and out.of the discharge-opening the water received through the pipe terminating at the bit of the drill and the accumulations forced by the same into the conical section will be carried out through the discharge-opening.

The accom panyingdrawing, which illustrates my invention, is a side elevation ofthe drill and the several pipes or tubes, partly iu section, showing the method of its operation upon a submerged bed of santi and rock.

Referring to this drawing, A represents a drill of any suitable construction, which may be operated by machinery in the customary manner. Surrounding the drill A is an iuclosing-case, B, which consists of two or more cylinders, b and b', preferably metallic, one ot' which is constructed to slide into the other in the manner of the sections of a telescope,and of a conically-tapering'terminal section, b2, secured to the lower extremity ofthe section b',

and provided with a lower extension, b3, consisting ot' a straight metallic pipe or tube. The sections b and bv serve to support the remaining portions ofthe apparatus, and, together with the extension b3, to protect the same, as well as to control the direction ofthe drill. The section b2 is preferably of cast-iron, and serves to unite the cylindrical portion ot' the inclosingcase with the tubular extension b3. rlhe tube b3 follows the point of the drill through the comparatively soft earth or other material which may cover the-rock to be operated upon,'as shown at li, the width of the bit a being preferably nearly equal to the interior diameter of the tube. rlhe tube b3 thus forms an interior wall for the drill-hole, aud'preveuts the surrounding earth F from pressing against the steel a after the bit has penetrated the same. Upon reaching the surface ot' the rock G further descent of the tnbc b3 is prevented, for the reason that the hole formed therein by the bit of the drill will not be of sufficient size to receive the tube. The latter will in consequence rest upon the upper surface of the rock, and while iu that position serves to steady IOC the motion of the drill, causing its successive strokes to fall upon the same point until it has entered the rock. In this manner a clear passage is always maintained from the surface of' the water to the bottom of the hole, whereby the drills may be removed and replaced with great facility, and through which the blastingcartridge may afterward be inserted.

For the purpose of clearing the pulverized rock and clippings from the hole as rapidly as they are formed by the drill, and thereby preventing the formation of a collar about the steel above the bit, I employ a tube, C, for conveying a stream of water to the bottom of the hole, thereby occasioning a continuous agitation and outiiow of' water and debris. To the upper extremity of the tube C is attached a hose, c, of' rubber or other suitable material, for convenience in handling. 'lhe hose c extends through a pipe, c-, secured to the interior ot' the section b, which section serves to re tain the hose away from the steel .of the drill and to prevent it from being bruised thereby. Suitable means are provided Vfor allowing the pipe C to descend into the hoie at the same rate as the drill, and foi` maintaining its lower extremity a shortI distance above the bit cf the drill.

To facilitate the discharge ofthe water and powdered rock or other accumulations from the tube b3, I provide a discharge-opening, D, which consists of a short branch tube, d, secured to the side ofthe conical section b2, with the interior of which it communicates. A jetpipe, E, extends downward from the upper extremity of the inclosing-case B, preferably outside of' and parallel with the same,to the tapering section b2, into the interior of' which it extends, terminating in a nozzle, c, concentric with the discharge-opening D. The discharge-tube D and the nozzle c preferably extend in an upward direction from the section b2, and they together form an ejector for discharging the muddy water from the tube b3,

suitable means being provided for forcing a stream of water or jet of steam through the pipe E.

During the operation of the drill streams of water or steam are constantly forced through the two tubes C and E, which keep the hole free from debris, and in this tnanner a hole may be drilled to a great depth into a submerged rock without necessitating the frequent removal of the drill and pumping out the hole, as has heretofore been customary.

Whenever it is desired to remove the drill it is simply withdrawn from the inclosing-casc B, which latter is allowed to remain in position in order to facilitate the insertion of the charge of explosive material for blasting. This is preferably effected by introducing a suitable cartridge provided with a fuse, and having electric conductors attached thereto, within the tube B, and thus lowering it into thc hole drilled into the rock. A graduated plunger is then employed for ascertaining whether thc cartridge has descended to the bottom of the hole, and this may be readily determined by comparing the distance to which the drill has been sunk with that registered by the plunger when resting upon the cartridge. The tamping of sand or other snitable material is also introduced through the tube B, after which the latter is withdrawn or removed, the upper extremities of the electric conductors having been previously attached to oats for more readily securing them after the tube B has been drawn from over them.

The section bf3 is preferably detachable fromV the conical section b2, and may be replaced by corresponding sections ol' different lengths for operating through strata of' earth of varying thickness.

In excavating the opening to the rock through the overlying bed of sand, mud, or gravel it is in some instances unnecessary to employ the drill for loosening the same, as the stream ot' water forced through the jet-tube will be sufficient for the purpose. The dbris will be discharged through the lateral opening in thel same manner, and the tube will gradually descend to the rock.

The precise form of the section which contains the discharge-opening which l have illustrated in the drawing is not essential, as any convenient curvature may be employed for constructing the saine without affecting the operation of the apparatus. Forinstance, it. may be constructed at a greater angle near the upper extremity than through the lower portion, thus forming a bowl-shaped section; and other like modifications may be made, whereby the weight may be reduced or the apparatus made more convenient for handling in any particular case.

It will be evident that in some cases the rubber extension or hose c of the pipe C may be dispensed with, as also the surrounding tube c','and the pipe G suspended freely bythe side of thedrill. Various modificationsmay, moreever, be made in the mechanical construction ofthe discharge-opening and nozzle or ejector without departing from my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a rock-drill, a tubular in closingcase, andan independent tube extending longitudinally within or through said inclosing-case, whereby the stream of fiuid under pressure is discharged upon the dbris iii the neighborhood ofthe bit of said drill.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbef'ore set forth, of ay rock-drill, ay tubular iuclosing-case, an independent tube extending longitudinally through said inclosing-case and terminating in proximity to the bit of said drill, for discharging a stream ol' fluid under pressure upon the debris surrounding said bit, and a discharge-opening formed in the side of said inclosing-case.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of' a rock-drill, a cylindrical inclosingease, and au ejector consisting of a pipe extending from the upper extremity of IOO IIO

IIS

said inclosing-cese and terminating within :i discharge-tube leading from the lower portion of said case.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinand :t discharge opening' or tube branching from said tapering section.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 9th day of November,

5 before set forth, of a rock-drill, an inclosing- A. D. 1882.

case consisting of two or more telesco'ping cylindrical sections surrounding the upper portion of said drill, a tubular extension of less diameter surrounding the lower portion of said xo drill,aninterveniugconically-taperingsection,

VM. y L. SAUNDERS.

Witnesses:

DANIEL W. EDGECOMB, MILLER C. EARL. 

